In her second novel, THE BOOK OF SILVER LININGS, Nan Fischer takes us on a journey that doesn't transport us to exotic locales. It is, instead, an internal journey, inside the psyche of a young woman named Constance Sparks. Like many of us, Constance matured into an adult based on her childhood and the love (or lack thereof) that she received. Her boyfriend, Hayden, calls her "constant Constance" because she is determined to find the stable life she wants to live --- with a husband, children and security.

Security is something she didn't have much of as a child. Her father was addicted to many substances and broke the law often, finally causing the death of someone during a robbery that landed him in jail. Constance's mother walked out on the family when she was just a child, so she was raised by her grandfather. But she remembers being unloved by both parents, so she seeks out a permanent relationship. When she finds one, she's determined not to let it go.

"What happens to Constance over the course of this novel is beautiful.... It's difficult to review the book and not give away what happens, but suffice to say that the plot moves along quickly, and we come to care about Constance."

Hayden says he loves Constance, and she feels that she loves him, but she hasn't informed him that her father is in prison for murder. Growing up, she quickly learned that no one wanted to be friends with someone whose father was imprisoned --- as if it were contagious --- so she began telling people that both her parents were dead. Now she has to figure out how to reveal the truth to Hayden, whose own parents are alive. However, Constance hasn't met them, and he's secretive about his relationship with them, telling her only that they are estranged. It turns out to be ironic that the "stable, loving relationship with no surprises" that they have craved ends up being filled with surprises on both ends.

After only eight months of dating, Hayden proposes and gives Constance a stunning antique diamond ring. He wants to get married in the next few months. Constance decides to research her beautiful engagement ring, and her efforts lead her to a book containing a series of letters written during the First World War from James, an American soldier in France, to his sister in the states. Fischer cleverly melds these correspondences with what is going on in Constance's life as we find out what happened to James before his untimely death in the war. We also read about her difficulties dealing with the stumbling blocks that life is putting in her path.

In Constance, Fischer has created a main character who reflects her own love of animals. Constance has volunteered at a small animal rescue for its owner, Trudy, who tries to find a home for every animal in her care. Despite Hayden's allergies, they foster a blind cat and a rambunctious dog. But the block of buildings where the shelter is located is about to be auctioned off, and Constance is desperate to try to help Trudy save the shelter and the homeless animals.

Animal lovers like myself will adore Constance's attitude toward these cats and dogs. Her favorite refrain is that "they're not unwanted, they just haven't found their forever home." And to those of us who know the rewards of giving a forever home to a homeless animal, that statement warms our hearts. In the acknowledgments, Fischer repeats that theme by advising readers who might need a smile to visit an animal shelter and volunteer --- or even adopt, if they have room. She says that the animals will "be forever grateful and fill your life with unconditional love." So true.

That unconditional love (the kind that we get from our dogs and cats) is what Constance realizes she desires --- and deserves --- as well. Does she want the safe, rather bland love that she and Hayden have? There is much that they don't share: their passions (his is cooking, hers is mountain biking); she loves animals, he not so much. And, of course, there's her biggest fear about how Hayden will react when she tells him about her father. Will he accept her in spite of her family's shortcomings?

What happens to Constance over the course of this novel is beautiful. Through a series of letters addressed to her, which almost magically appear in the historical book of letters and seem to be from the long-ago James, Constance is asked to examine her values, determine her raison d'être and decide if she thinks she is worthy of true love. One of Constance's problems is that her father is up for parole, and his expectation of her support makes her uncomfortable. But if she doesn't do what he expects, will he love her?

It's difficult to review the book and not give away what happens, but suffice to say that the plot moves along quickly, and we come to care about Constance. She and her best friend, Mars, have had a tough life, but they stay positive and upbeat (most of the time) and are determined to do their best. We know that neither girl achieved her college dreams because life's problems interfered. Constance supports her grandfather and sends her father money monthly for the prison commissary. She was forced to give up her dream of veterinary school to help pay for her father’s lawyers.

So we are rooting for Constance to find her happy-ever-after, but this isn't a simple romance. It's about finding oneself before finding true love and the realization that people aren't really ready for romance until they have a solid emotional standing on which to base that romantic relationship.